Ember In The Heart

“Well all that’s fine and good but while you might be into older women, I’m twenty-five, Colt, and not interested in taking on a woman who I assume has a shit ton of baggage. I mean, why is someone like her single at her age?”

That cheeky son of a bitch.

Before I could think it through, I stepped out from behind the wall and both Colt and Foster looked over sharply. Colt looked horrified. Foster hid his surprise behind a cold mask.

I stared at him like he was a bug and detected the slightest flinch in his expression.

“I’m single because, unfortunately, there are far too many Foster Darwins to Colt Barons. I’d rather be alone than settle for immature man-children who can’t even stand up to Daddy.”

Taking too much satisfaction for the thundercloud that hung over his expression, I sashayed away, waving off Colt’s apology, and enjoying the feel of my dress fluttering around my legs as I departed on the last word.

* * *

Colt tried to apologize again after what happened. Jade was so angry at Foster at first but then after she spoke with Colt her attitude annoyingly changed to understanding and forgiveness. Shouldn’t your big sister just be on your side no matter what?

It didn’t matter what age you were. A person needed family to take their side when someone insulted them.

I crossed my arms over my chest, silently listening to them all talk on Foster’s driveway, but not participating. In fact, my mind wandered, and I stared over my shoulder at our front porch, thinking how it needed a spruce up for summer. Maybe we could swap out of the swing seat for one of those oversized ones that looked like a bed. How comfy would that be, sitting out on the porch with a glass of iced tea on a warm summer’s day? And if spring was anything to go by, we were in for a hot summer.

A tug on the skirt of my dress brought my attention back around.

To my shock I found Georgie standing in front of me, head tilted back, dark hair spilling down her tiny shoulders, big dark eyes staring into mine. She gave me a shy smile.

My heart melted. “Hey.”

“I like your dress,” she said quietly.

I crouched down beside her and watched her face light up as the full skirt spread out on the ground around us. “You like dresses?”

She nodded. “My mommy said she’s going to send me dresses from Parees.” She mispronounced the city.

“Dresses from Paris? Well you know they’ll be the prettiest dresses in the world.”

“As pretty as yours?”

“Prettier.”

“Come on, Georgie.” Foster was suddenly there lifting his daughter into his arms. He avoided my gaze as he rubbed his nose against hers and said softly, “Time to see your room.”

And with nothing more than a wave to Colt, Foster carried his kid into his house without saying another word to us.

So. Freaking. Rude.

2

Foster

Holding Georgie’s hand, he stood at his daughter’s side as the moving team organized her room. He’d paid for two services—moving their belongings and also unpacking and dressing the house. Moving from his apartment, he’d promised Georgie a whole new suite of furniture for her large bedroom and this was the first time she’d gotten to see it in situ.

“The ladies will hang the princess drapes you chose on the bed canopy.” Foster pointed out to her as the two women working on Georgie’s room unpacked soft furnishings. He’d asked for G’s room to be completed first. They’d get around to painting it whatever color she liked later but for now at least he could make sure her first night in her new home was as comfortable as possible. The furniture she’d picked out was white and the small bed was fit for a princess with four posts. G loved every shade of purple so the drapes, her bedding, cushions, rug, everything was in a variety of her favorite color. “Do you like it so far?”

Georgie stared around the room, looking bemused. An ache flared in his chest. Weeks ago, G would have been curious about everything in her room. But since Carolyn left for Paris, his daughter had been subdued. No wonder. What child wouldn’t be upset that their mother decided to accept a job offer on another continent?

Foster and Carolyn argued but there was no arguing with a woman who felt she was owed her chance at the life and career she wanted and would only resent G if she didn’t go for it. In the end, Foster decided he didn’t want Georgie around a mother who felt that way about her anyway. But Georgie was five, old enough to realize her mother had left her, and too young to understand it wasn’t her fault. He could kill his ex for doing this to their sweet little girl.